london



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,236

J. LAWSON PLUG COCK Filed Jan. 5, 1928 INVENTOR:

' JOSEPH mwson,

By his Attom g s.

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,585,236 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LAWSON, GREAT ST. HELENS, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ASIATICPETROLEUM COMPANY, LIMITED, OF ST. HELENS COURT, LONDON, ENGLAND.

PLUG COCK.

Application filed January 3, 1928, Serial No. 244,341, and in GreatBritain September 24, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in plug cocks, and moreparticularly to means for preventing loss, due to leakage.

According to the present invention we provide a plug cock having aplurality of ports formed in its periphery with grooves or recessesformed in the periphery of the plug and extending completely around oneor more of the ports, and means adapted to return any leakage liquidfrom grooves or recesses to a reservoir or the like.

In one form of construction, as applied to a four-way plug cock adaptedto supply liquid to a pair of containers and to deliver it therefrom,one container being filled while the other is being emptied, the axis ofthe plug is horizontal; the ports communicating with the containers arelocated on the periphery of the plug, while the delivery outlet iscoaxial with theplug.

The plug is provided with longitudina grooves, located between the portsand communicating with circumferential grooves whichiare formed betweenthe ends of the plug and the end walls of the ports, the said groovesbeing in communication with the suction side of a pump supplying liquidto said plug, or with the reservoir from which the liquid supplied tothe plug cock is drawn.

In a plug cock constructed in this manner, it will be seen that providedthe leakage past the plug is not greater than can be dealt with by thegrooves and returned to the reservoir, no loss ofliquid will occur.Moreover, since any leakage past the plug is for this reasonrecoverable, it is possible to employ a cylindrical plug, there being nolonger any necessity to have a ground-in fit between the plug and thecock casing.

Ina cock thus constructed, the plug can obviously be so made that it canbe turned with the minimum of friction. and conse quently isparticularly suitable for apparatus in which the plug is turnedautomatically, as in the case of a curb-side petrol pumpadapted to filland empty a pair of containers alternately.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, as applied toa four-way cock adapted to supply liquid to a pair of containers and todeliver it therefrom, one container being filled whilst the other isbeing emptied.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a sectionat right angles to Figure 1. Figure 8 is a front elevation of the plug,Figure 4 an end elevation thereof, Figure 5 a vertical section, Figure 6a section at right angles to Figure 5, and Figure 7 a sectional plan.Figure 8 is a development of the plug cock.

1 is a cylindrical plug which is horizontally mounted in a casing 2, andis formed with an inlet port 3 in communication through a passage t withan inlet 5, and with an outlet port 6 in communication with an outlet 7coaxial with the axis of the plug. The inlet port 3 and the outlet port6 are adapted alternately to be placed in communication with passages ,4

8 which direct the fluid to and from the containers, the arrangementbeing such that when the plug is in the position shown in Figure 2,fluid passes from a chamber 9, provided with an inlet pipe 10 incommunication with a pump (not shown) through the inlet 5, pas-- sage 4,port 3 and right hand passage 8 to one of the containers, andsimultaneously fluid passes from the other container through the lefthand passage 8, outlet port 6, and outlet 7, and when the plug 1 isrocked in a clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 1) through thatcontainer which was being filled now discharges, and that containerwhich was discharging is now filling.

11 are longitudinal grooves which are located between the inlet port 3and the outlet port 6, and are in communication with circumferentialgrooves 12 formed between the ends of the plug 1 and the end walls ofthe ports 3 and 6; 13 is a passage which through holes 14 communicateswith the grooves 12, and 15 is a connection to which is secured a pipe(not shown) adapted to lead any liquid from the passage 13 to areservoir or to the suction side of the pump.

It will be seen that since the inlet port 3 is completely surrounded bythe grooves 11 and 12, any liquid which might otherwise leak eitheralong the plug or into the outlet port H 6 is trapped and returned tothe reservoir or pump, and that as a result, the plug may be made sothat it canbe turned witha minimum of friction and consequently isparticularly suitable for apparatus in which the plug is turnedautomatically, as in the case of a curb side petrol pump.

What I claim is 1. In a plug cook the combination of a plug, a pluralityof ports formed in the periphery of said plug, grooves formed in theperiphery of said plug and extending completely around said ports, andmeans adapted; to place said grooves in communication with a reservoir.

2. In a plug cock, the combination of a plug, a plurality of portsformed in the po riphery of said plug, circumferentialgrooves in theperiphery of the plug and located between the ends of said plug and theend walls of said ports, longitudinal, grooves inthe pee.

riphery of the plug located on each side of one of said ports and incommunicationwith said circumferential grooves, and means adapted toplace said grooves in communication;with a reservoir.

8. In a plug cock, the combination of an inlet port formed in theperiphery of, the plug, an outlet port formed in. the periphery of theplug, a port in. communication. with said inlet port, a portincommunication with said outlet port, circumferential grooves in theperiphery of the plug located between the ends of said plug and saidinlet and outlet ports, longitudinal grooves int-he periphery of theplug located between said inlet and outlet ports and in communicationwithsaid circumferential grooves, and means adapted to place saidgrooves in communication with a reservoir.

4'. In a plug cock, the combination of a plug, a plurality of portsformedin the periphery of said plug, grooves formed; in the periphery ofsaid plug and extending completely around said ports, a drain pas sage,ports in the casingof said plug cock, in communication with said:passage, and in communication with said grooves.

5. In a. plug cook, the combination of a plug, a plurality of portsformed in the periphery of said plug,circumferential grooves in theperiphery of the plug and located between the ends of said plug and theendwalls of said ports, longitudinal groovesin the periphery of the.plug. located on each side of one of said ports andin communication withsaid circumferential grooves, a drain passage, and ports in the casingofsaid plug cock, in communicationwith said. passage and incommunication with saidgrooves.

6. In a. plug cock, the combination of an inlet port formed in theperiphery of: the plug, an outlet port formed in. the periphery oft-hefplug, ,a port in communication with said inlet port, a port incommunication with said outlet port, circumferentialgrooves intheIperiphery of the plug located between the ends of: said plug andsaid inlet and outlet ports, longitudinal grooves in the periphery ofthe plug located betweensaid inlet andoutlet ports andin communicationwith said circumferential grooves, a drain passage, and ports in thecasing of said plug cock, in communication with. said. passage. and in,communication with said groovesl i 7 A plug cock havlng an inlet port inthe periphery of said plug cock and adapted alternately to be placed incommunication with a p r. o con a nen a porta apted, to be placed incommunication with a fluid supply means and located in the plug cock, a.passage connecting said last mentioned port to said inletport, an outletport formed in the periphery of said: plug cock and adapted alternatelytolbe placed incommunication with said: containers, a port; located insaid plug cook, .a passage connecting "said last mentioned: port to saidoutlet port, circumferentiaLgrooves in the periphery of said plug cockand located between. said inlet and outlet ports, and the ends of saidplug cock, longitudinal grooves inthe periphery of said plug cock andlocated between said: inlet and; outlet ports and in communication withsaid circumferential grooves, and: means adapted; to

place said grooves in. communication with a reservoir.

8. In'combination a plug cook, a casing within which said plug cock isrotatably mounted, an inlet port in the periphery of said plug-cock andadapted to be placed alternately in communication with a pair ofcontainers, a port adapted to be placed in communication with: saidfluid supply means and located in the plug cock, a passageconnecting-said last mentioned port to said inlet port, an outlet portformed in-theperiphery ofv said! plug cock andadapted alternately to beplaced inv communication with said containers, a port located in saidplug cock, a passage'connecting saidlast mentioned port to said outletport, circumferential grooves in the periphery of said plug cock andlocated between said inlet and outlet ports and the ends of said plugcock, longitudinal grooves formedin and. extending to the periphery ofsaid plug. cock andlocated between said inlet'and outlet ports. and incommunication with said circumferential grooves, portsin saidcasingincommunication with said grooves and means adapted to place saidports incol'mnunication with a reservoir." I

Intestimony thatI claim the foregoingas my invention, I have signed mynamethis 15th day of December, 1927;

JOSEPH LAWSON.

